In the coming weeks, the Anaheim city council is expected to vote on yet another tax subsidy of $144 million for a so-called “luxury” hotel right across the street from the entrance to Disneyland, and then another hotel subsidy later in the summer. I will be voting against these subsidies because I believe they are unnecessary, they put the city on a dangerous path financially and they are a reckless giveaway of taxpayer dollars.

Back in 2013, when the Anaheim city council majority voted to give $158 million to a politically-connected hotel developer at the Gardenwalk properties (I voted against this action), we were told we needed to help shield the developer from the effects of the economic recession, and that if we didn’t subsidize this hotel “it would not be built.” In the 3 years since then, we have approved and celebrated the opening of 17 hotels in Anaheim, all without any subsidies. Our hotels serve the millions of tourists who come to our resort area each year, with beautiful amenities, spas, dining and entertainment. Continue reading→

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2016) — On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the Anaheim City Council unanimously approved the districting map and election sequence for the November 8, 2016 election. This action adopts the Recommended Plan (Map 3), which defines the shape of Anaheim’s first City Council voting districts. The Council’s vote also set the election sequence for Districts 1, 3, 4 and 5 for Nov. 8, 2016.

The remaining two districts (2 and 6) will hold elections in 2018. The districting process started in 2014 when Anaheim voters increased the City Council from five to seven members and set six City Council voting districts. Council Members shall live within their district, and can only be elected by residents of their district. The Mayor will continue to be elected “At Large” from across the City. Continue reading→

Three Proposed District Maps Are Focus of Anaheim’s Historic Election Update Process

Advisory Committee Urges Participation in Final Two Meetings

ANAHEIM, Calif. — (Sept. 4, 2015) The focus on maps representing proposed Anaheim City Council voting districts has narrowed from 30 to three — with the possibility of additional revisions during two final community meetings in September.

All proposed election district maps remain under consideration and will continue to be discussed, reviewed and refined at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Electoral Districts on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the Loara High School auditorium. Continue reading→

ANAHEIM, Calif. (July 8, 2015) — The Anaheim City Council approved an entertainment tax policy for the Disneyland Resort as Walt Disney Parks and Resorts evaluates a significant investment in its existing operations in the Anaheim Resort.

The policy, adopted as a resolution and agreement with Disney, was approved on a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring and Council Members Kris Murray and Jordan Brandman in support, and Mayor Tom Tait and Council Member James Vanderbilt in opposition. Continue reading→

The Anaheim City Council is up to their old tricks again – this time they want to hand a $1.5 million dollar tax giveaway to the powerful and wealthy Disney company.

Community leaders are fed up with both the City Council and Disney. A protest is set for July 7, 2015, at 5 p.m., at Anaheim’s City Hall, located at 200 South Anaheim Blvd., where a public hearing on this matter will be held. Continue reading→

It turns out that the ARTIC transit hub might cost Anaheim residents a fortune – right from the start. Apparently Anaheim City officials have not yet secured a corporate sponsor willing to put its name on a transit station opening Dec. 6, leading to a potential operating budget shortfall for the next seven months, according to the OC Register.

What this means is that it will cost more than $3.6 million to maintain and operate ARTIC through the end of June, but only half of that funding is secured.

The waste that is ARTIC and Measure M

The really ridiculous part of this mess is that Anaheim never needed ARTIC. The train station at Angel Stadium was perfectly functional and user-friendly. Continue reading→

CITY OF ANAHEIM TO HOST PUBLIC MEETINGS ON ANGELS BASEBALL NEGOTIATIONS

ANAHEIM, CA – (January 7, 2014) The City of Anaheim invites the public to attend community-wide workshops addressing the ongoing Angels Baseball negotiations. The meetings will be held on January 14 and 30 starting at 6 p.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena, located at 800 West Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802. Complimentary parking at the Katella Ave. entrance will be offered for anyone attending the meetings. Each meeting will offer information as well as an opportunity for the community to present their questions and input.

The community meetings will include a presentation on the following topics – Continue reading→

CHIEF OF POLICE SELECTION TO BE PRESENTED TO ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL AT DEC. 17 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

ANAHEIM, Calif. (December 11, 2013) On Dec. 17 at the regularly-scheduled City Council meeting, the Anaheim City Council will be presented the City Manager’s selection for a permanent Chief of Police. City Manager Marcie Edwards will recommend Raul Quezada, who is currently serving as the Interim Chief of Police. This follows practice where executive appointments are made by the City Manager, pending City Council confirmation. Continue reading→

ANAHEIM, CA – (October 9, 2013) The Council District Mapping Community Input project will kick off this month with the first meeting on Wednesday, October 16 at 6 p.m. at the Anaheim City Council Chambers, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805. All are welcome to attend. Continue reading→

Over the past 16 fiscal years, Anaheim paid out slightly more for Angel Stadium than it received from the Angels, who use the city’s ball park and the expansive parking lot that comes with it, city figures show. For nine of the years, the city made money, and for seven, it paid more than it took in. Overall, the city of Anaheim has had a loss of $52,132, according to the O.C. Register.

Now the Anaheim City Council wants to turn over the parking lot at Angel Stadium to the wealthy owner of the Angels, essentially for free, in order to entice him to keep his team in Anaheim. Continue reading→